1969: Theatre 1 opened with 1600 rocking chair seats by the ABC Great States chain. It’s premiere was “100 Rifles” with Jim Brown and Raquel Welch.

1972: Theatre 2 is opened across the street from theatre 1 by the ABC Great States chain. It had 500 seats (but not rocking chair). It’s premiere was “What’s Up Doc” with Barbara Streisand and Ryan O'Neal.

1988: Cineplex Odeon opens a 6-screen theatre inside the mall. Theatres 1 and 4 become 9 and 10; Theatres 5 and 6 become 11 and 12; 2 and 3 (for a time) became 13 and 14; 7 and 8 retain their numbering.

1990: Theatres 13 and 14 close.

1998: Cineplex Odeon Theatres become Loews/Cineplex Theatres

1998: Theatres 11 and 12 close.

1999: “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menance” opens.

2002: “Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones” opens

2005: “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith” opens

Fall, 2005: Theatres 7 and 8 close.

January, 2006: Theatres 1-6, 9 and 10 close a day before Loews/Cineplex became AMC Theatres.

I agree they should bring back intermissions for movies running for more than 2 ½ hours. I do remember when I saw movies at the Lake Theatre in Oak Park, IL they had intermissions for “Ragtime”, “Sophie’s Choice”, “Amadeus” and “Out Of Africa”. In recent years the only movie that had an intermission was “Gods and Generals” because it ran over three hours.

Some movie theatres like Cinemark and AMC have combos. Like at my Cinemark a tub of popcorn and a large drink costs $10.50. If I go to a cheap theater (like the Picture Show at Bloomingdale Court) a tub of popcorn and a large drink costs $8.00. Last time I went to a Regal Theatre (the Lincolnshire) a large popcorn and large drink cost me $11.00.

Movies are better enjoyed in a theatre. I see a movie in a theatre to determine if I would buy that title on DVD and Blu-ray. It doesn’t matter how big your home theatre system is, it doesn’t beat seeing a movie in a theatre.

I originally saw “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” on ABC-TV in 1983 with the extended footage that was also in the video release. I later recorded it off of TCM (Turner Classic Movies) back in 1995 on VHS (TCM aired it in widescreen format).

Just visited the newly renovated theatre yesterday and what is left from the Cineplex Odeon days is the “Now Showing” signs and the navy blue carpeting on the wall. What is gone is the zig-zag carpeting being replaced by tiles and new carpeting in the theaters, new seats in all theatres, new signage outside and the so-called “V” logo (in which Village Theatres took the original “C” from the Cineplex Odeon and make it into a “V”) has been replaced by the “Picture Show” logo. Bathrooms are clean as well as the theatres.

The Bloomingdale theatres will be reopened on August 28, 2009 under the Picture Show discount movie chain. Admission will be $1.75 all times, on Tuesday admission will be $1.00. I knew that this theatre will eventually run as a second-run theatre.

Originally I saw the movie on ABC-TV. I recorded the original on VHS from The Movie Channel. Later I saw the “Redux” version at the Yorktown Cinema in Lombard, IL and later got the DVD of the “Redux” version. Paramount should release this on Blu-ray.

I remember seeing this at Cinemark Melrose Park just over two months after the theatre opened. This was the same for episode III. I saw Episode II at the Crown (now Kerasotes) Village Crossing 18 because they were showing it in digital projection only to find out that it was sold out and ended up seeing it in 35MM instead.